The Second Track

The Night the Machines Took Over: How a Broken TB-303 Accidentally Invented Acid House

Episode Summary

In 1987, Chicago producer DJ Pierre discovered that a malfunctioning Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer—originally designed to help guitarists practice—could create squelching, otherworldly sounds that would birth an entire genre. We dive into how this happy accident sparked acid house, transformed dance music forever, and proved that sometimes the best innovations come from using gear exactly the wrong way.